Microbiological reduction process and steroid products produced thereby



United States Patent 0 3,1933% Il/HCRQBEOLQGICAL REEUiJT'ltE-N PRQCESS AND STERQED PRGDUCTS PRGBUQED THEREBY Eldon D. Nieison, Winston-Salem, N.C., Pat B. Hamilton, Penna City, (Erin, and Moises Riano and David Rosi, East Greenbush, and George P. Peruzzotti, North Greenbush, N.Y., assignors to Sterling Drug ind, New York, FLY a corporation of Delawm'e No Drawing. Filed Nov. 7, 1963, Ser. N 322,929 36 filaims. (Cl, 268-45432) This invention relates to a new microbiological reduction process in the steroid field and to novel products produced thereby.

More particuiarly, the invention resides in the concept of a process for producing a 2-hydroxymethyl steroid mm a Z-hydroxymethylene steroid which comprises subjecting the latter to the fermentative enzymatic action of a micro organism capable of eifecting the reduction of the exocyclic double bond at the 2-position.

The process is applicable to a steroid having a hydroxymethylene group in the 2-position. The hydroxymethyl group produced by the microbiological reduction assumes the stable or equatorial configuration which is the a-COIlfiguration in the event the steroid belongs to the 50: (androstane) 'serie'sor has a 4,5'doublebond; or the fi-configuration in the event the steroid belongs to the 5B (etiocholane) series. A preferred class of steroids is that wherein the steroid has a 3-oxo group and a double bond in the 4,5-position, the process being illustrated by the following equation:

CH CH R R GH3(\ CH? E HOCH: 50011,...

The course of the reduction can be followed by the ultraviolet spectrum in which a shift in the maximum absorption from 252 m to about 240 mu occurs.

A wide variety of microorganisms has been found effective to bring about the above reduction. These microorganisms belong to the orders Actinomycetales, Moniliales, Mucorales, Sphaeriales and Spirogyrales. We have found variations exist in the efiiciency of different genera and species of organisms within the above orders in our reduction process and have therefore ascertained that, by following the screening procedure hereinafter described, the effectiveness of any particular organism can readily be determined.

Some microorganisms have been found to produce other transformations of the steroid molecule along with the reduction of the Z-hydroxymethylene group. For example, a culture medium containing Aspergillus flavipes converts 2 hydroxymethylene-4-androsten-17/8-ol-3-one first to 2et-hydroxymethyli-androsten-17B-ol-3-one and then oxidizes it to 2a-hydroxymethyltestololactone. The organism Penicz'iz'um lilacz'num, however, only carries out the initial reduction step. These transformations are illustrated in the following flow sheet:

Occasionally hydroxylation or oxidation reactions will occur simultaneously with or subsequent to the reduction of the Z-hydroxymethylene group. For example microbial conversion of Z-hydroxymethylenei-androsten- 17,8-ol-3-one with Streptomyces roseochromogenus led to the isolation of 2ct-hydroxymethyl 4 androstene 3,17- dione and 2a hydroxymethyl 4 androsten l6 o1 3, 17-dione.

The novel products of the invention include those of the following formula R on? 2 wherein R is hydrogen, lower-alkyl or lower alkynyl, and R and R" are either hydrogen or lower-alkanoyl groups. The compounds wherein R and R" are hydrogen are prepared by the microbiological reduction process described above, that is, from the corresponding Z-hydroxymethylene derivatives. The compounds Where one or both of R and R" are lower-allranoyl groups are prepared by conventional esterification reactions, as by reacting the free carbinols with the appropriate acid halide or acid anhydride.

The compounds of the foregoing Formula A and the other Z-hydroxymethyl steroids produced by the process of the invention are useful as intermediates, and themselves exhibit endocrino-logical activities, for example, pituitary-inhibiting activity. Upon treatment with basic reagents, for example, potassium bicarbonate in methanol, the elements of water (or of lower-alkanoic acid if R" is lower-alkanoyl) are split out from the Z-hydroxymethyl (or Z-acyloxymethyl) group to give a 2-methylene-3-oxo- R OOH U- .9 4-androstene compound. The latter are useful as anabolic agents.

The structures of the products obtained by the process of the invention were established by elementary analysis and by evidence provided by ultraviolet, infrared and NMR spectra.

GENERAL SCREENING PROCEDURE TO DETERMINE EFFI- CIENCY OF ANY SPECIFIC ORGANISM Inoculate the microorganism onto agar slants or other agar base media suitable for growth. Place the inoculated slants in an incubator at approximately 26 C. and allow to grow for one week. Remove the slants and add 15 ml. of distilled water. Loosen the spores and vegetative growth from the agar with a sterile needle. Transfer the suspension to a flask containing 100 ml. of the soydextrose medium described below, and place the flask on a rotary shaker in an incubator at approximately 26 C. at about 210 r.p.m. for twenty-four hours. After this initial time period (first stage seed), add ml. of the submerged growth under sterile conditions to each of duplicate flasks of different types of media, namely, soydextrose, glucose-Edamine and dextrin-cornsteep (for compositions, see below). Place the flasks on the shaker and allow to grow for forty-eight to seventy-two hours at approximately 26 C. Add the substrate (steroid) in a suitable water-miscible solvent, for example, acetone, methanol, or dimethylformamide to one flask of each pair. The amount of steroid added to the fermentation may vary considerably, but it is generally on the order of 0.1 to 0.5 g. per liter of medium (10 to 50 mg. per flask). The other flask of each pair serves as the control.

Allow the fermentation to proceed for a period of time long enough to achieve maximum conversion of the steroid substrate (sixteen to seventy-two hours) and remove the flasks from the shaker.

After completion of the fermentation, extract the whole mash with a water-immiscible solvent; or, alternatively, separate the mycelium by filtration and extract it, for example, with acetone or methylene dichloride or both, evaporate the extracts and add the residue to the culture filtrate. Extract the latter twice with an equal volume of a water-immiscible organic solvent, for example, ethylacetate or methylene dichloride. Wash the combined solventextracts with diluted sodium bicarbonate solution followed by water, dry with anhydrous sodium sulfate, and finally evaporate to remove the volatile solvent.

The nature of the materials produced can be detected by paper and thin layer chromatographic procedures and analyzed by ultraviolet spectrophotometry. In larger scale fermentations, the products are isolated directly by fractional crystallization from a suitable solvent or by column chromatography on conventional adsorbents, such as activated magnesium silicate, silica gel or alumina.

Constitution of illustrative media used:

Soy-dextrose Soybean meal g 5 Dextrose g 20 NaCl g 5 KgHPOA g 5 Yeast g 5 Tap water l 1 pH to 6.4.

Autoclave at lbs. per sq. in. for 15 min.

Cerelose-Edamine- Cerelose (crude dextrose) g 50 Edamine 1 g Cornsteep liquor ml 5 Tap water l 1 pH to 4.5.

Autoclave at 15 lbs. per sq. in. for 15 min. b; fin enzymatic hydrolysate of milk protein (Sheffield Farms 4 extrin-cornsteep- Dextrin g 10 Cornsteep liquor g KH PO g 1 NaCl g 5 Tap water l 1 pH to 4.0.

Autoclave at 15 lbs. per sq. in. for 30 min.

Transformation of 2-lzydroxymethylene-4-andr0sten-17fi- 016-0112 in a culture medium containing Aspergillus flavipes Two fourteen liter jar fermentors were prepared, each containing 10 liters of sterile medium of the following composition:

Percent Cerelose (glucose) 5 Edamine 2 Cornsteep liquor 0.5 Tap water (pH adjusted to 4.5 with 10 N-Hcl prior to autoclaving).

The fermentors were inoculated with an A. flavipes seed which was produced by growing the culture in a medium contained in ml. quantities in 500 ml. Erlenmeyer flasks. The cultures were aerated on a shaker rotating at 210 rpm. They were incubated at 26 C. for seventy-two hours and 10% quantities of inocula were used to seed the fermentors. The inoculated fermentors were agitated at 400 r.p.m. and aerated with 2 liters of air per minute at a temperature of 25 C. for forty-eight hours at which time 4 g. of 2-hydroxymethylene-4-androsten-lZB-ol-El-one dissolved in 75 ml. of N,N-dimethylformamide was added to each tank. Antifoam was added as needed during the fermentation cycle.

Samples taken periodically from the tanks were analyzed chromatographically, indicating that the. fermentations were proceeding as expected; that is, a polar metabolite, 2u-hydroxymethyl-4-androsten-l7fi-o1-3-one, was observed in the first few hours. Samples analyzed at a later period indicated that a second even more polar component, 2a-hydroxymethyltestololactone, was also being formed. Twenty-four hours after addition of the substrate, chromatography indicated that the substrate added to the fermentation and the less polar metabolite (2o:- hydroxymethyl 4 androstan 17p ol 3 one) had disappeared. The fermentation was terminated and the mycelium was filtered off. The mycelial cake was washed with two one-liter volumes of acetone, and the combined filtrate and washings were extracted once with 20 liters of methylene dichloride and twice with halfvolumes. These extracts were combined and concentrated to about 500 ml., washed several times with 250 ml. portions of 2% aqueous sodium bicarbonate, then Washed twice with 250 ml. portions of water, dried with anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated to dryness. The residue was triturated three times with 25 ml. portions of ether to remove some oils. Crystallization of the remaining residue from methyl alcohol, with the aid of decolorizing carbon, gave colorless crystals (0.503 g.) of 2a-hydroxymethyl-testololactone, M.P. 2l7.8223.8 C. (dec.) (corr.), [u] =+57.2 (1% CHCl ultraviolet maximum at 239-240 m r (e=16,600), infrared adsorption at 2.96, 5.82, 6.04 and 6.19 The NMR spectrum was in accordance with the assigned structure.

mum at 239 m (s=16,600); infrared absorption at 3.88,

5.75, 5.96, 6.16 and 8.01

EXAMPLE 2 Transformation of Z-hydroxymethylene-4-andr0sten-170- ol-i-one in a culture medium containing Penicillium lilacinum 2-hydroxymethylene-4-androsten-17,8-01-3-one (4.0 g.) was subjected to the action of the enzymes produced by Penicillium lilacinum. Two 14 liter tanks were fermented and extracted as previously described above for A. flavipes (Example 1). The dichloromethane extracts of the fermentation beer were evaporated under reduced pressure to approximately 500 ml. and washed with aqueous sodium bicarbonate, then with water, dried over anhydrous sodium sulfate and evaporated to remove the volatile" solvent as described in Example 1. After removal of extraneous oils by washing the residue with nhexane, the remaining amorphous material was chromatographed over activated magnesium silicate using ethylene dichloride-acetone mixtures as eluants. The fractions eluted with 8:1 and :1 mixtures were evaporated to dryness. The residue was recrystallized from ethyl acetate to give 1.62 g. of 2a-hydroxymethyl-4-androstcn 176-ol-3-one, M.P. 1998-2034 C. (corn) [a] =+130 (1% CHCl ultraviolet maximum at 242 m (e=15,- 300); infrared absorption at 2.96, 3.44, 3.50, 3.54, 6.01, 6.20 and 6.90;.

Acetylation of 2u-hydroxymethy1-4-androsten-17 3-01- 3-one with acetic anhydride in pyridine gave 2a-acetoxymethyl-17B-acetoxy-4-androsten-3-one, M.P. 109.6-118.8 C. (corn) when recrystallized from methanol-water; [a] =+5.5 (1% CHC1 ultraviolet maximum at 241 m (e=16,132); infrared absorption at 5.78, 5.99, 6.18 and 8.080..

' When 2whydroxymethyl-4 androsten-l7 8-ol-3-one was subjected to the action of "a fermentation medium of Aspergillus flavipes, it was converted in 60% yield to 2:1-

hydroxymethyl-testololactone, identical with the product obtained above in Example 1.

In the following table are listed organisms which have been found to bring about the reduction of Z-hydroxymethylene-4-androsten'17,3-ol-3-one to 2a-hydroxymethyl- 4-androsten-17fl-ol-3-one. In some instances additional products are also formed.

TABLE Order (Moniliales) Alternaria porri (Ell.) Sacc. CBS Alternaria consortiale (Thom) Groves and Hughes CBS ATCC 10060 ATCC 10065 Aspergillus allz'aceus Aspergillus amstelodami Order (Moniliales) :C0ntinued Botrytis cinerea ATCC 12481 Botrytis paeoniae ATCC 12482 Cephalosporium gregatum ATCC 11073 Helminthosporium victoriae ATCC 12566 Penicillium aculentum ATCC 10409 Penicillium adametzi NRRL 737 Penicillium albidum ATCC 10408 Penicillium avellaneum ATCC 10414 Pcnicillium chermesinum ATCC 10424 Peniciilium citrinum ATCC 10105 Penicillium coryliophilum ATCC 9784 Penicillium griseofulvum ATCC 11855 Penicillium iilacinum ATCC 10114 Penicillium lividum ATCC 10102 Penicillium nigricans ATCC 10115 Penicillium tardum ATCC 1050-3 Penicillium sps. ATCC 12556 Pleospora herbal-um (Pers) CBS Order (Muco'rales):

Chaetoclaaium j'onesii CMI 40066 Choanephora cucurbitarum ATCC 10909 Cunninghamella elegans ATCC 10028a(+) Cunningha'mella verticillata ATCC 8983 Helicostylum piriforme ATCC 8992 Linaerina pennispora' ATCC 12442 M'ucor griseo-cyanus -1 ATCC 1207a(+) Mucor mucedo ATCC 7941 Mucor racemosus ATCC 1216a(+) Rhizopus arrhizus ATCC 11145 Rhizopus chinensis ATCC 1227b(+) Rhizopus cohnii ATCC 8996 Rhizopus sfolonifer ATCC 12939b() Order (Sphaeriales):

Chaetomium cochli'odes ATCC 10195 Chactomium cristatum ATCC 11201 Didymella lycopersici ATCC 11847 Emericellopsis salnzosynnemata ATCC 11661 Order (Spirogyrales) Syncephalolastrum racemosum- ATCC 13 3 2b CBS indicates the organism was obtained from the Centraal Bureau voor Schimmelcultures, Netherlands.

ATCCzAmerican Type Culture Collection number.

CMlzCommonwealth Mycological Institute number. NRRIJZNOItheI'D. Regional Research Laboratory number.

EXAMPLE 3 Transformation of Z-hydroxymethylene-I7a-methyl-4-an .dr0sten-17/i-ol-3-0ne in a culture medium containing Penicillium lilacinum A fermentation vessel having a capacity of 14 liters provided with stirring means, an air inlet tube and sampling outlet tubes, was charged with 10 liters of a nutrient solution of the following composition:

. Percent Cerelose 5 Edamine 2 Cornsteep liquor 0.5

Tap water pH adjusted to 4.5 with 10 N-HCl) the culture for forty-eight hours at 31 C. with a supply of 2 liters of air per minute, and agitated at 400 r.p.m., 5 g. of 2-hydroxymethylene-17a-methyl-4-androsten-17(3- ol-3-one dissolved in 70ml. of N,N'-dimcthylformamide was added to the tank. Additional amounts of ant-ifoam were added as needed during the course of the fermentation. Samples taken periodically from the tank were extracted and assayed by paper chromatographic procedures. The fermentation appeared to be complete twentytwo hours after addition of the substrate. it was discontinued and the whole mash was acidified to pH 2.0 and extracted twice with 20 liter portions of dichloromet'hane. The combined extracts were concentrated under reduced pressure to about two liters, washed with two 500 ml. portions of 2% aqueous sodium bicarbonate and then with water. The resulting solution was dried over sodium sulfate and concentrated to remove the volatile solvent. Ether washings of the residue yielded a crude material (44% yield of the weight of the fermentation substrate) melting at 194198 C. which was chromatographed over activated magnesium silicate using ethylene dichloride: acetone mixture as eluants. The fractions eluted with 10:1 mixtures were evaporated to dryness yielding a compound which was crystallized from ethyl acetate as hexagonal plates to give 2u-hydroxymethyl-l7ce-rnethyl-4- androsten-l7fl-ol-3-one, M.P. 210.0210.8 C. (corr.), [e] =+94-.9 (0.519% in chloroform); ultraviolet maximum at 241 mu (6: 15,466); infrared absorption at 2.92, 6.05 and 6.20,u.

Acetylation of Za-hydroxymethyl-Ua methyl 4 androsten-17,8ol-3-one with acetic anhydride in pyridine gave 20: acetoxymethyl-l7a-methyl-4-androsten-1718-01- 3-one, M.P. 136.8138.6 C. (corr.), when recrystallized from ether; [a] 88.5 (0.504% in chloroform); ultraviolet maximum at 242 m (e==12,152); infrared absorption at 2.86, 5.75, 5.99 and 6.19

EXAMPLE 4 Transformation of 2-hy-droxymethylene-17a-ethynyl-4- androsten-17B-ol-3-one in a culture medium containing Rlzizopus stolonifer was carried out by the procedure described hereinabove in Examples 1-3. There was thus obtained 2a-hydroxymethyl-17u-ethynyl-4-androsten-17,8-

ol-3-one, M.P. 164-165 C. (uncorr.) (recrystallized from ethyl acetate), [a] =|38.8 (93% CHCl ultraviolet maximum at 242 mu (e= 4,400); infrared absorption at 2.95, 3.06, 4.75, 6.07 and 6.19 The NMR spectrum was in accordance with the assigned structure.

Following the foregoing procedures,

Z-hydroxymethyleneetiocholan-17 8-ol-3-one, Z-hydroxymethylenepregnane-3 ,20-dione, 2-hydroxymethylene-17a-methyl-19-norandrostan-175-01- 3-one, 2-hydroxymethylene-6a,17a-dimethylandrostan-175-01-3- one, 20-ethylenedioxy-2-hydroxymethylene-4-pregnen-21-ol-3 one, ZO-ethylenedioxy-Z-hydroxymethylene-4,4-dimethyl-5- pregnen-3 -one, 2-hydroxymethylene-4,17a-dimethyl-4-androsten-175-01- 3 -one, or

2-hydroxymethylene-4-cholesten-3-one can be converted, respectively, to

2fl-hydroxymethyletiocho'lan-17B-ol-3-one, Zfl-hydroxymethylpregnane-3 ,20-dione, 2a-hydroxymethyl-17u-methyl-19-norandrostan-175-01- 3-one, 2tx-hydroxymethyh6a,l7fi-dimethylandrostan-17,3-01-3- one, 20-ethylenedioxy-Za-hydroxymethyl-4-pregnen-21-ol-3 one, ZO-ethylenedioxy-2a-hydroxymethyl-4,4-dimethyl-S- pregnen-3 -one, 2oa-hydroxymethyl-4,17a-dimethyl-4-androsten-17,8-01-3 one, or 2a-hydroxymethyl-4-cholesten-3-one.

There are some organisms which bring about reduction of the steroidal 2-hydroxymethylene group to a 2-hydroxymethyl group while subsequently causing other transformations of the steroid molecule. These organisms EXAMPLE 5 Transformation of 2-hydroxymethylene-4-androsten- 17,8-ol-3-one in a culture medium containing Streptomyces roseochromogenus was carried out by the procedures described hereinabove in Examples 1-3. By chromatographic separation of the product mixture there was obtained 2a-l1ydroxymethyl-4-androstene-3,17 -dione, M.P. 172.0174.2 C. (corr.) (recrystallized from ethyl acetate), [a] =-}2l2.3 (1% CHCl ultraviolet maximum at 241 m (e=15,400); infrared absorption at 2.86, 3.42, 5.78, 6.02 and 6.87 and 2a-hydroxymethyl-4-an drosten-l6u-ol-3,17-dione, M.P. 203.0-205.0 C. (corr.) (recrystallized from ethyl acetate), [a] =+206.1 (0.507% in chloroform); ultraviolet maximum at 240 m (e=15,300); infrared absorption at 2.93, 2.99, 3.46, 5.80, 6.04 and 6.20 The latter two products were acetylated with acetic anhydride in pyridine to give, respectively, 2a-acetoxyme-thyl-4-androstene-3,17 -dione, M.P. 165.4-168.0 C. (corr.) (recrystallized from n-hexaneethyl acetate), [a] =+151.1 (1% CHCl ultraviolet maximum at 240 mu (e=15,900); infrared absorption at 3.43, 3.50, 5.77, 5.97, 6.17, 8.09 and 8.22 and 2a-acetoxymethyl1fia-acetoxy-4-.androstene-3,17 dione, M.P. 157.6159.4 C. (corr.) (recrystallized from nhexane-ethyl acetate), [a] =+103.9 (1% CHCl ultraviolet maximum at 240 mu (e=l5,800); infrared absorption at 5.69, 5.79, 6.00 and 6.20 The NMR spectra of the foregoing products were in accordance with the assigned structures.

EXAMPLE 6 2oz hydroxymethyl-17a-methyl-4-androstene-16a,17B- diol-3-one was prepared from 2-hydroxymethylene-17amethyl-4-androsten-17Bol-3-one in a fermentation medium containing Streptomyces roseochromogenus as described hereinabove in Examples 1-3. Purification by chromatography afforded 2u-hydroxymethyl-17ot-methyl- 4-androstene-16a,l7fl-diol-3-one, M.P. 226-228.5 C. (corr.); [a] =+70.O (0.2% in chloroform); ultraviolet maximum at 241 mu (e=l5,200); infrared absorption at 2.96, 3.40, 3.50, 6.03, 6.10 and 6121 2a hydroxymethyl-17a-methyl-4-androstene-1604,175- diol-3-one can be caused to react with acetic anhydride in pyridine to give Za-acetoxymethyl-17a-methyl-4androstene-16oc,17,6-diol-3-one 1'6-acetate.

EXAMPLE 7 2a hydroxymethyl 4 androstene 6 8,17/3 dial-3- one was prepared by fermenting 2-hydroxymethylene-4- androsten-17B-ol-3-one in sterile cerelose-Edarnine medium as described hereinaoove in Examples 1-3 with Czmrzirzghamella elegans ATCC 10028a(+) or Cunninghamella verticillata ATCC 8983. Purification of the fermentation products by chromatography afforded 2ozhydroxy methyl 4 androstene-6fi,l7fi-diol-3-one, M.P. 213215.5 C. (corr.), [a] =+1.l (0.2% CHCl ultraviolet maximum at 239 mu (e=12,700); infrared absorption at 2.97, 3.43, 3.50, 6.03 and 619a. Acetylation of 2ot-hydroxymethyl-4-androstene-65,17fi-diol-3-one with acetic anhydride in pyridine gave 2u-acetoxymethylandrost-4-ene-6fi,17,8-diol-3-one 6,17-diacetate when recrystallized from n-hexane, M.P. 163.6165.0 C. (corr.), [a] ==+21.l (1% in chloroform); ultraviolet maximum at 237 III/L (e=13,l00); infrared absorption at 5.75, 6.01, 6.18 and 8.00

EXAMPLE 8 9 sterile cerelose-Edamine medium to the enzymatic action of Cuiminglmmella elegans ATCC 10028a(+). Purification of the fermentation products by chromatography afiorded 6,6,17B-dihydroxy-Z-hydroxymethyl-l7a-ethynyl- 4-androsten-3-one, M.P. ZOO-201 C. (uncorr.) (recrystallized from ethyl acetate); [u] =14.5 (0.131% in chloroform); ultraviolet maximum at 239 mu (e=12,700) infrared absorption at 3.00, 3.44, 3.52, 4.77, 6.04 and 6.20 Acetylation of 6[3,17,8-dihydroXy-2-hy droxy methyhl7a-ethynyl-4-androsten-3-one with acetic anhydride in pyridine gave 6B,17,8-dihydroXy-2-acetoxyrnthyl 17a-ethynyl-4-androsten-3-one 6 acetate, M.P. 8090 CL ('uncorr.) (recrystallized from n-hexane-ethyl acetate); [a] =-21.0. (0.40% in chloroform); ultraviolet maximum at 236 mu (e=12,750); infrared absorption at 2.90, 3.07, 3.42, 3.50, 5.75, 5.97, 6.16, 6.88 and 8.10 The NMR spectrum was in accordance with the proposed structure.

EXAMPLE 9 65,173 dihydroxy 2 hydroxymethyl-17a-methyl-4- androsten-S-one was prepared from Z-hydroxymethylenel7a-methyl-4-androsten-17B-ol-3-one by the enzymatic action of Czmninghamella elegans ATCC 10028a(+). Purification by chromatography afforded 65,17fl-dihydroxy-Z-hydroxymethyl-17u-methyl-4-androsten 3 one, M.P. 255-258 C. (uncorn) (recrystallized from ethyl acetate); [cc] =+52.4 (0.75% in pyridine); ultraviolet maximum at 239 my. (e=l2,900); infrared absorption at 3.00, 3.44, 5.98, 6.10 and 620a.

We claim:

1. The process for producing a Z-hydroxymethyl steroid which comprises subjecting a Z-hydroxymethylene steroid to the reductive fermentative enzymatic action of a microorganism of an order selected from the group consisting of Actinomycetales, Moniliales, Mucorales, Sphaeriales and Spirogyrfles.

2. The process according to claim 1 in which the steroid has an x0 group in the 3-position and a double bond in the 4,5-position.

3. The process for preparing a compound of the formula which comprises subjecting a compound of the formula HO OHg- HOCH:

10 dr-oxymethylene-4-androsten-17/8-ol-3-one to the reductive fermentative enzymatic action of a microorganism of the genus Penicillium.

6. The process for preparing 2u-hydroxymethyl-4-androsten-17'B-ol-3-one which comprises subjecting 2-hydroxymethylene-4-androsten-17,8-ol3-011e to the reductive fermentative enzymatic action of the microorganism Aspergillus flavipes.

-7. The process for preparing 2a-hyd-roxymethyl-4-androsten-17fi-ol-3-one which comprises subjecting 2-hy-- droxymethylenetendrosten-17fi-ol-3-one. to the reductive :fermentative enzymatic action of the microorganism Penicillium lilacinum.

8. The process for preparing 2a-hydroXymethy1-17amethy1-4-and-rosten-17fi-ol-3 one which comprises subjecting 2-hydroxymethylene-17a-methyl-4-androsten-175201-3- one to the reductive fermentative enzymatic action of a microorganism of the genus Aspergillus.

9. The process for preparing 2a-hydroXy-methyl-17amethyl-4-androsten-17fi-ol-3-one which comprises subjecting 2-hydroxymethylene-17a-methyl-4-androsten-17 8-01-3- one to the reductive fermentative enzymatic action of a microorganism of the genus Penicillium.

10. The process for preparing 2u-hydroxymethyl-d7rxmethy1-4-androsten-17/3-ol-3-one which comprises subjecting 2hydroxymethylene-17ot-methyl-4-androsten 17B-01-3- one to the reductive fermentative enzymatic action of the microorganism Aspergillus flavipes.

11. The process for preparing 2a-hydroxymethyl-17amethyl-4-androsten-175-01-3-one which comprises subjecting Z-hydroxymethylene17a-methyl-4-androsten475-01-3- one to the reductive fermentative enzymatic action of th microorganism Penicillz'um lilacinum.

12. The process for preparing 2a-hydroXymet-hyl-17aethynyl-4-androsten-17,8-01-3-one which comprises subjecting Z-hydroxymethylene-l7a-ethynyl-4 androsten-1713- ol-3-one to the reductive fer-mentative enzymatic action of a microorganism of the genus Rhizopus.

13. The process for preparing 2a-hydroxy methyl-17otethyny1-4-androsten-17fi-ol-t3-one which comprises subjecting 2-hydroXyrnethylene-17a-ethynyl-4-androsten -01- 3-one to the reductive fermentative enzymatic action of the microorganism Rhizopus stolonifer.

14. A compound of the formula 6Q OZQU wherein R is a member of the group consisting of hydrogen, lower-alkyl and loWer-alkynyl; and R and R" ar members of the group consisting of hydrogen and loweralkanoy-l.

15. 2ot-hydroxyrnethyl-4-androsten-l7B-ol-3-one.

16. 2a-acetoXymethy-l 17 fi-acetoxy-4-androsten-3-one.

17. Za-hydroXymethyI-17e-methy1-4 androsten-17 5-01- 3-one.

=18. -2a-aoetoxymethyl-17a-methyl-4-androsten-17,8-01-3- one.

19. Zwhydroxymethy-l-17a-ethynyl-4 -audrosten-17B-ol- 3-one.

20. A member of the group consisting of 2rx-hydroxymethyltestololactone and lower-alkanoyl esters thereof.

21. 2ot-hydroxymethyltestololactone.

22. 2ot-acetoxymethy-ltestololactone.

23. A member of the group consisting of Zoe-hYdIOXY- methyl-4-androstene-3,17-dione and lower-alkanoy-l esters thereof.

24. 2a-hydroxymethyl-4-androstene-3,17-dione.

25. 2a-acetoxymethyl-4-androstene-3,17-dione.

26. A member of the groupconsisting of 2a-hydroxy methy1-4-androsten-16a-o1-3,17-dione and lower-alkanoyl ester thereof.

27. 2a-hydroxymethyl-4-androsten-16a-o1-3,17-di0ne.

28. Za-acetoxyrnethy1-4-androstem16wo1-:3,17 dione 16-acetate.

29. A member of the group consisting of 2a-hydroxymethy117 wmethyl-4-androstene-16a,17fi-diol- 3 one and 1ower-a-1kanoyl esters there-of.

31. A member of the group consisting of (A) Za-hydroxymethy1-17a-R-4 androstene 65,175 diol 3 one, wherein R is a member of the group consisting of hydrogen, lowenalkyl and lower alkynyl; and (B) lower-a1- kanoyi esters thereof.

32. 2a-hydroxyn1ethy1-4-androstene-6fi,17fi-diol-3-one.

33. 2cc-303iOXYH'IEUIYI-4-HDCIIOSt6I16-6fi,17/3-di01 3 one 6,17-diacetate.

34. 6,8,17/8-dihydroXy-2w-hydroxymethy1-17a-ethyny1-4- androsten-3-one.

35. 6,8,1'7fl-dihydroXy-2a-acetoxymethyl-l7ozethyny14- androsten-B-one G ace-tate 36. 6&17,8-dihydroXy-2a-hydroxymethyl-17w methyl-4- androsten-3-one.

No references cited.

LEWIS GOTTS, Primary Examiner. 

1. A PROCESS FOR PRODUCING A 2-HYDROXYMETHYL STEROID WHICH COMPRISES SUBJECTING A 2-HYDROXYMETHYLENE STERIOD TO THE REDUCTIVE FERMENTATIVE ENZYMATIC ACTION OF A MICROORGANISM OF AN ORDER SELECTED FROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF ACTINOMYCETALES, MONILIALES, MUCORALES, SPHAERIALES AND SPIROGYRALES.
 14. A COMPOUND OF THE FORMULA
 20. A MEMBER OF THE GROUP CONSISTING OF 2A-HYDROXYMETHYLTESTOLOLACTONE AND LOWER-ALKANOYL ESTERS THEREOF. 